3-year-old Emmett Rychner and Erling Kindem, an 89-year-old Second World War veteran, are best friends. For nearly a decade, Emmett’s parents, Bryan and Anika Rychner, have been neighbours with Kindem. However, it wasn’t until last year that they began interacting — mainly due to Emmett’s love for tomatoes.

Their unlikely friendship began when Emmett, only two at the time, wandered into Kindem’s yard and saw the tomato patch. “Everytime he saw me out there, he would come running over [and say]: ‘Erling, got any ‘matoes?'” Kindem recalls. Adorable, right? They’ve been inseparable ever since. For the past year, they’ve raced their motorized vehicles and bikes, played croquet and baseball, caught bugs and much more.

Sadly, their time together is coming to an end. Emmett’s parents have decided to move away to a bigger house because their current once isn’t big enough for their growing family. Kindem won’t be sticking around in the neighbourhood for too long either. Since he’ll turn 90 next year and his wife is ill, he’s decided to move into a seniors apartment.